Unable to utter a straight sentence, I stared at the Hokage. He was trying to trick me, wasn't he? That was just a joke. Why would he offer that to me?

„Are ... you serious?", I stammered. The Hokage smiled. „Sure. Girl, you've been through a lot and I also understand that you're a bit suspicious about it. But you can be unworried, I have not the slightest intention of harming you. On contrary." Stiff as a board, I stood there staring at him. My legs felt like jelly by now. Was it true? Did he really want to help me?

„But ... I stole some things, how am I going to make it up to you?" A gentle expression formed on his features. "Let me worry about that for once."

„What's your decision Tora?" now Kakashi asked as well. „All the time I've lived alone, I've had only one wish that I was sure would never come true. I wanted to become a ninja warrior and fight for all that is important to me. So my decision is ... yes." The Hokage nodded. „Good, then ..."

But he was interrupted by a knock on the door. „Come in." Sensei Iruka rushed into the room. His hair was dishevelled and sticking out from his head on all sides. Actually, a funny sight, if for me the situation had not been so serious. I would be able to become a ninja. Only now did I really understand what I had just decided. Unbridled joy ran through me. My dream would come true after all. And before I knew it, I had rushed forward and embraced the Hokage.

Taken by surprise, he stumbled a step backwards, but immediately caught himself again. Tears of joy streamed down my face and wet the fabric of his robe. „Thank you," I said and stepped back. There was silence in the room. Everyone was staring at me. „Sorry, it just made me incredibly happy to know that my dream can come true after all," I explained, wiping away the tears. Smiling, the Hokage looked at me. „What do you have to apologize for? I'm glad I could help you."

Then he cleared his throat. „Iruka. I'm glad you're here. I'm sure you'll have some questions about Tora. I'll tell you this much: her father lied to all of us three years ago. It was his own fault that she ran away. Now, you must be wondering how dear Tora managed to survive for so long while remaining unseen." Promptly, he looked at me. I gulped. So, I was the one who had to tell him. „I am the intangible." My voice sounded hoarse in my ears.

Sensei Iruka seemed caught off guard. „I ... don't believe that. How will you ... unseen." Almost a little offended, I looked at him. „I have a special Kekkei Genkai that has made this possible for me. That's the reason no one could find me." I took a deep breath. Now they would all know. My secret. See it for themselves. „Jutsu of invisibility."

I almost enjoyed the stares as my body disappeared in front of the others. „This is incredible. Such an ability, would be of great use to you in battle," said Kakashi, who was the first to recover his voice.

„I guess that's true, but still, I had to get used to it too. Coordination was especially difficult for me, because I could feel but not see where, in which place my arms and legs were. It was only very slowly that I was able to teach myself."

Finally, I released the jutsu and made myself visible to everyone again. That part was already done once. Finally, the Hokage cleared his throat. „Good, let's continue." His gaze now turned directly to me again. „You will be going to the academy after the weekend like any other student. Iruka. You will be their sensei once again." Addressed nodded in agreement. „That means you'll also be going to class with Naruto again. I'm sure this will be very good for both of you." I smiled. Yes indeed.

„But the thing is, you've missed quite a bit of classwork over the years, so, I'm going to set you up with a tutor..."

„That won't be necessary," I said. Astonishment flashed in the others' eyes. I suppressed a grin. If they only knew. „I participated in most of the class."

Iruka raised his head in confusion. "How am I to understand that?" "Well..." Now I really couldn't suppress the grin.

„In front of your classroom, there is a very tall tree Sensei. And I often sat on it and listened to your lessons invisible. But I had to be really careful that Kiba couldn't smell me, because of his strong sense of smell. And in parallel, I also had to pay attention to Hinata's byakugan."

I looked at the three men expectantly. Iruka could not really believe what he heard. I couldn't read Kakashi's expression, and the Hokage seemed almost interested. „So... Really interesting what you paid attention to and at the same time were able to not reveal yourself. Those are very good skills indeed," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. „Then I guess the question about the teacher would have been settled. I will assign someone to help you improve your practical skills. Go to the training ground tomorrow around noon, because your future mentor will be waiting for you there." I nodded, caught off guard and excited at the same time.

The Hokage exhaled. „Good, then we just have to worry about where you can sleep tonight and in the near future. I don't think anything will come up for today. Because it's already pretty late." He was right. In the meantime, it had already become pitch dark outside. It was at least eight o'clock in the evening. How time flew by.

All at once the door was torn open and a blond tornado rushed in. I couldn't help but look at Naruto in amazement. I would never have thought that he would show up here again at this hour. Quickly, the Uzumaki came running toward me. Ignoring his sensei and the other two completely. Uh-oh.

„So, Tora. I couldn't care less what's going on and what they're all doing here now, but I want to hear an answer. And I want it now!"

Shocked, I stumbled back a step. The expression on his face hurt me. But I had not deserved it any other way. For far too long, I had kept my secret from him. „Um Naruto." The blond narrowed his eyes into slits and squinted past me in the direction of the Hokage. The interruption didn't seem to suit him at all. „Could you maybe let Tora sleep in your apartment tonight?" Now all of the blond's features finally slipped away. „Where-how do you know Tora's name and why should she sleep at my home? I mean sure she can, but I don't understand..." Sensei Iruka interrupted his confused stuttering.

„I think she can explain that to you herself later. It's important that she has a roof over her head for this night before we find her an apartment."

„A-apartment?"

Oh dear. He was completely confused. Yes, I could definitely relate, I had found myself in such a situation quite often today.

„I'd say that's enough for today. Tora, you go with Naruto and stay with him for the night. It might also be better if you tell him the truth." I nodded, hoping that the Uzumaki would forgive me for what I had kept from him. „Yes, she will," Naruto said with a look in my direction that I flinched under. I had really gotten myself into something there.

„Good night," he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the room.